Emulsifier.



J. WILLMANN.

EMULSIFIER. APPLIUATIOH FILED APR. 2, 1910.

Patented 001;. 18, 1910.

Wren.

JOSEPH WILLMANN, OF DERBY, CONNECTICUT.

EMULSIFIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 18, 1910.

Application filed April 2, 1910. Serial No. 553,113.

Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Emulsifiers, of which the followirig is a specification.

My present invention relates to an emulsifying apparatus for liquids,such as milk, which contains fat lobules, and it has for its object toprovide a relatively simple,

etlicient and reliable apparatus of this character which embodies meansfor dividing a flowing body of milk, under pressure, into a plurality ofrelatively minute streams which are directed against the peculiarlyarranged surfaces and also against each other at such a velocity as tobreak up the fat globules to such an extent as to homogenize the productand prevent rising of the fatty constituent-s to the top of a body ofthe liquid.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements,and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinaftermore fully described, the novel features being pointed out particularlyin the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 represents a sectional View of anemulsifying or homogenizing apparatus constructed in accordance with mypresent invention; Fig. 2 represents a transverse section on the line 22of Fig. land upon an enlarged scale showing the formation andarrangement of the grooves or passages upon the surface of each disk orelement; and Fig.3 represents a transverse section taken diametricallythrough one of the emulsifying disks or members.

Similarparts are designated by the same reference characters in theseveral views.

' An emulsifying or homogenizing apparatus constructed in accordancewith the present invention is shown in its preferred form in theaccompanying drawing, it consisting of a casing 1 and a pump 2, thelatter being capable of delivering a flowing body of the milk or liquidto the casing at a relatively high pressureiand continuously. Thecasingl in the present instance 1s provided witlr-a bore- 3 which ispreferably cylindrical, and a passage 4 leads to the bore 3 preferablyat a perpendicular thereto, this pas- .sage l communicating with thepump. In

the present instance, the casing is provided with a flange 5 and a boss6 which form a member of a coupling whereby the casing may be firmlyattached to the outlet of the high pressure pump.

A shoulder is formed toward the outlet end of the bore 3 preferably by aremovable or separately formed bushing 7, the latter being threaded orotherwise tightly fitted into the casing, and it also has a head orflange 8 which bears upon a packing ring 9 so as to form a perfectlyfluid-tight fit upon the casing. This bushing has a bore 10 throughwhich the emulsified or homogenized liquid may discharge from thecasing, and a delivery pipe or other means may be attached to thebushing 7 to conduct the emulsified liquid to any desired point.

The emulsifying or homogenizing action is produced within the casing bya set of assembled or superposed elements which are held positively inintimate relation under heavy compression and have relatively minutepassages or ducts through which numerous streams of the liquid aredirected at high velocity and are caused to impinge upon suitablesurfaces that will cause disintegration of the fat globules. Ipreferably employ a set of disks 11 which are duplicates and are mountedor arranged in superposed relation Within the bore 3 of the casing. Eachdisk is flat and its opposed surfaces are ground or formed perfectlytrue so that when the disks are assembled, they will fit preciselyagainst one another. The periphery of each disk is provided with asuitable number of bosses or lugs 12 which are adapted to rest againstthe wall of the bore 3 of the casing and thereby center the diskstherein and at the same time form a number of segmentalcircumferentially spaced passages 13 between the set of disks and thewall of the bore. The disks are placed at that point in the here wherethe passage 4- communicates therewith, and in order to permit the bodyof milk flowing from the high pressure pump through the passage 4 toreach all of these segmental passages 13, the faces of the bosses orlugs 12 are reduced or tapered as at 14 whereby means of communicationbetween these circumferentially spaced passages Will be established. Thecenter of also against surfaces which are so arranged distantly as tocause the disintegration of the fat globules. In the resent instance,the dividing of the body 0 the liquid into the minute streams iseffected by forming minute assages orducts between the adjacent disks.These ducts may be conveniently.formed by grooving one or both facesof-each disk.

I generally prefer to groove both faces of each disk in order to insureto the greatest degree a thoroughness in the operation and, moreover,the apparatus has a greater capacity in that case. In the presentinstance, I provide the faces of each disk with an annular orcircumferential groove 15 which is preferably concentric with the axisof the disk, and two sets of inwardly extend.- inggrooves 16 and 17, thegrooves 16 extending from the periphery-of the disk to and communicatingwith the circumferential groove 15, while the inner set of grooves 17lead from the circumferential groove 15 to the aperture 14 in the centerof the disk. These two sets of grooves 16 and 17 are preferably arrangedin radial relation and they are also staggered with respect to" oneanother, the radial relation of the grooves 16 and 17 to thecircumferential groove 15 causing the liquid to' be projected into thecircumferential groove 15 at a normal, and the staggered or alternatingrelation of the I grooves 16 and 17 will cause the liquid from eachgroove 16 to be projected abruptly against the 'wall=of the roove 15,whereupon this stream of liquid is divided into equal bodies which flowin opposite directions around the circumferential groove 15 and thesedivided bodies from one radial groove 16 meet the equal divided bodiesof liquid flowing in reverse directions from'the adjacent grooves 16 atthe entrance to the radial grooves 17 the impact of these equal bodiesof liquid at such points insuring complete disintegration of the fatglobules and also diverting these streams or bodies of liquid into thegrooves 17, this result being secured by spacing one set of radialgrooves about the circumferential groove 15 equior midway between theother set of radial grooves.

following any. other course than through the passages provided for theliquid, and any top of the set of disks and a compression screw 19 bearsupon a seat formed upon the top or outer end of the plunger, thiscompression screw being fitted into a yoke or other suitable support 20attached to the casing, and a packing is provided for the plunger whichwill effectively preventthe escape of the liquid under high pressure.This packing in the present instance consists of a cupped packing ring21 which encircles the plunger 18, a gland 22 bears upon the packingring, and a nut or cap 23 bears upon the gland 22 and is threaded orotherwise suitably attached to the casing.

I claim as my invention a 1. An emulsifying or homogenizing devicecomprising a casing having a passage for conducting a flowing body ofliquid and also having a bore communicating therewith, a set ofcentrally apertured disks assembled in said bore, each disk having aface formed with a circumferentially extending groove, and sets of innerand outer radially extending grooves arranged in alternating relation,the radial grooves of one set communicating with said circumferentialgroove at points equidistantly between the points where the other set ofradial grooves commupicate with said circumferential groove, and meansfor maintaining a positive compression upon the assembled disks to causethe liquid to fiowsolely through disks assembled in superposed relationin said bore, each disk having an inner aperture for the passage ofliquid and also having intimately engaging faces, a face of each diskbeing formed with a circumferentially extending groove and sets of innerand outer radially extending grooves arrange in alternating relation,the radial grooves of one set communicating with said circumferentialgroove at points equidistantly between the points Where the other set ofradial grooves communicate with said circumferential groove, saidgrooves'constituting the sole means of communication for the liquid be-"tween said bore of the casing and the inner apertures of the disks, themajor portion of each disk being smaller in diameter than said bore inthe casing and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced bosseswhich cooperate with the wall of said bore and thereby center andposition the disks grooves in their faces.

bore, and means for maintaining a positive compression upon theassembled disks to cause a flow of liquid solely through the 3. Anemulsifying or homogenizing device comprising a casing provided with apassage for conducting a flowing body of liquid and also having acylindrical bore communicating with said passage, a bushing formedseparately from the casing and removably threaded therein at one en ofsaid bore and in axial alinement therewith, a set of disks assembled illsaidbore, each disk having an inner aperture for the passage of theliquid and also havin inter-communicating radial and circum erent-ialpassages formed in its face for conducting liquid between said bore andsaid inner aperture, 4

diameter than that of the bore, each disk having a set ofcircumferentially spaced bosses which fit closely within and cooperatewith the walls of said bore to ceiitr andmaintain the assembled disks inproper operatlve relation, and means acting upon the assembled disks topositively maintain their faces in intimate relation to, cause theliquid to flow solely through said passages.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence, oftwosubscribing w tnesses.

' JOSEPH WILLMANN- Witnesses CLARENCE A. BATEMAN, GnAs. S HYER.

